Universal Preschool News

In this section, you'll find editorials, legislation, public policy and trends
on issues relating to preschool, pre-kindergarten, childcare and the push toward
universal preschool education. Particularly of note are articles concerning the
states claim of a compelling interest in compulsory preschool education. Visit
often for the latest preschool news.

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Clinton Wants Universal Preschool ProgramMIAMI BEACH -- Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Rodham Clinton is proposing a $10 billion federal program aimed at providing voluntary pre-kindergarten for all 4-year-old children in America.She said quality pre-kindergarten programs will more than pay for themselves because children will be less likely to enter special education programs, drop out of school or enter the welfare system.May 21, 2007[More Results from KOCO Oklahoma City (FL)]

Pre-K program lacks studentsOnly 56 4-year-olds are in the Brooksville summerprogram to get ready for kindergarten.Only 56 students have enrolled so far in the program at Brooksville, Pine Grove and Westside elementary schools, said elementary curriculum specialist Elaine Wooten. While nearly 1,000 other Hernando students took advantage of a similar school-year program offered by private child care providers, she said, the summer turnout has been a disappointment.by Tom MarshallJune 28, 2006[More Results from St. Petersburg Times (FL)]

Pre-K enrollment lower than expectedORLANDO - Enrollment in Florida's new $387 million prekindergarten program is not meeting expectations, missing projections by tens of thousands of children, state officials said Friday.Gladys Wilson, deputy director of early learning for the state agency that manages the program, told a conference of small-business leaders assembled by the nonprofit Florida TaxWatch that only about 80,000 4-year-olds are enrolled. That's 54 percent of the 147,000 expected to attend.
October 15, 2005[More Results from The Gainesville Sun (FL)]

Pre-K plan may have a big flawUse of religious schools for programs could be a violation of the state constitution.As they crafted Florida's free prekindergarten program last year, lawmakers were largely silent on one potential hang-up: Their plan may be unconstitutional. The problem is that Florida lawmakers, rather than relying on public schools as other states have done, opted to offer public money for 4-year-olds to attend religious schools.
by Joe FollickJune 7, 2005[More Results from Sarasota Herald-Tribune (FL)]

Editorial: Ride the preschool waveEducation fads often turn into regrets. Open classrooms' Too noisy. Rejecting phonics as a tool for teaching reading? A disaster that caused California reading scores to plummet.Now comes the movement to promote high-quality public preschools, which is taking on some faddish signs. In Florida, preschool advocates are stunned by their success selling Lance Armstrong-like orange wristbands — $21 for a pack of 10, with the profits dedicated to raising the quality of Florida's new preschool program.April 24, 2005[More Results from USA Today (FL)]